Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Ban on Wind Energy Projects
A federal judge in Massachusetts has struck down Trump’s executive order barring new wind energy projects, declaring it unlawful and “arbitrary and capricious.”
U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of 17 state attorneys general and Washington, DC challenging the executive order issued by Trump on his first day in office stopping new wind project permitting. The coalition says that their states have invested hundreds of millions of dollars collectively to develop wind energy and more on upgrading transmission lines to bring wind energy to the electrical grid.
A Win for Everyday Americans
According to the American Clean Power Association, wind is the largest source of renewable energy, providing about 10% of the electricity generated in the U.S. now. Marguerite Wells, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, said wind “is currently one of the most cost-effective ways to generate power and is being used successfully not only in the United States, but across the world. With this ruling behind us, projects can now be judged on their merits. We thank the attorneys general who helped us get this case over the finish line.”
“This decision is a win for consumers, union workers, U.S. businesses, clean air and the climate. From the beginning of its time in office, the Trump administration put a halt to the wind energy projects that are needed to keep utility bills in check and the grid reliable. In the months since, this action has been a devastating blow to workers, electricity customers, and the reliability of the power grid,” said Kit Kennedy, managing director for power at Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “This ban on wind projects was illegal, as this court has now declared. The administration should use this as a wake-up call, stop its illegal actions, and get out of the way of the expansion of renewable energy.”
Pushing Back Against the Trump Administration
Environmental League of Massachusetts Vice President of Policy and Regulatory Affairs Amy Boyd Rabin said, “Yesterday’s victory is a victory for offshore wind and for regulatory certainty. It shows that the federal government can’t make arbitrary rules against certain industries and allows offshore wind to start to get back on track, even within this administration and time period.”
Wins like these are made possible by the generosity of environmental advocates. Support us as we work with the Conservation Voters Movement and the National League of Conservation Voters to pushback against the Trump Administration.
